India Inc asks to lower of interest rates

Concerned over the decline in industrial output to two-year low of 1.9% in September, Indian industry today stepped up its demand for the lowering of the key interest rate by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

"CII is concerned with the sharp fall in September industrial. With global economic scenario also deteriorating, the RBI should not only pause but begin to reverse its interest rate hikes," CII Director General Chadrajit Banerjee said in a statement.

The industrial growth, measured in terms of Index of Industrial Production (IIP), slipped to a two-year low of 1.9% during September because of poor performance of the manufacturing and mining sectors as per the government data released here today.

RBI has been on a rate hike spree since March 2010. Last month, it increased short-term lending and borrowing rates for the 13th time since March, 2010, by 25 basis points to 8.5 and 7.5% respectively.

Industry body Assocham's Secretary General DS Rawat said, "RBI should start reducing interest rates to boost industrial output growth. RBI monetary policy to control surplus demand has resulted in low industrial production."

Ficci Secretary General Rajiv Kumar also said, "We (the industry) wants proactive reform measures from the government to reverse this trend and improve overall business sentiments."

However, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that there is no connection between high interest regime and low industrial output growth.